Real Madrid - 1, Barcelona - 1 (3-1 on aggregate) Bobby Robson, once of Barcelona, said recently that Real Madrid versus Barcelona is more than just football, "it's a battle between two countries". Against a backdrop of political violence that once again showed the geographic divides in Spain, Madrid took even more pleasure than usual last night in asserting regional supremacy over their great Catalan rivals.
They were outplayed at times by a spirited Barca but a magical strike from Raul just before half-time sealed their passage back to Glasgow 42 years after Puskas and Di Stefano created a legend. Again the opposition will be unfancied and German. The novena - ninth European Cup - is on.
But Real will have to play better than this. Barcelona deserved Ivan Helguera's own goal, and not to lose on the night.
They lost the semi-final a week ago in the Nou Camp. Last night, at least, they got some pride back.
Barca had the best of the tense early stages. Frank de Boer almost scored with a free-kick in the 18th minute, with Luis Enrique and Javier Saviola combining well.
Their best chance, though, came when Francesco Coco deflected Fabio Rochemback's diagonal shot on to the post but Patrick Kluivert was unable to get to the rebound before Real's goalkeeper Cesar, who cleared bravely.
Real's goal came out of nothing, Raul winning a loose ball, Zinedine Zidane easing it back to Raul, who, from 20 yards, struck a superb left-footer into the top corner. No wonder they call this team Raul Madrid.
Three minutes into the second half Philip Cocu whipped in a cross from the left. Saviola swung at it and missed. But Helguera pushed the ball over his own line.
That still left Barca needing two to win, a mighty task, and had Abelardo kept a 56th-minute free header down, or Luis Enrique steered a later effort the other side of the post, it would have been an interesting finale. But it is Real Madrid, again, in the final.
The visitors attacked from the off and both Saviola and Coco opened Madrid up along the wings before Xavi sent a shot over Cesar's bar after four minutes.
At the other end Guti sent a tame volley sailing over the Barcelona goal after Raul had knocked down Roberto Carlos' long throw.
De Boer saw his aforementioned free-kick deflect off the Madrid wall and fly inches wide before Raul's curling shot skimmed Roberto Bonano's crossbar.
Barca were on top, but unable to turn their superiority into goals, while Madrid looked to counter-attack as they had done in the Nou Camp. Zidane tormented the Barca defence with a mazy run on 25 minutes and Guti forced Bonano into a good save on the half hour with a right-foot shot.
In the 43rd minute, five minutes after Cesar's save from Kluivert, the home side all but ended the tie when Raul netted, sending the massed ranks at the Bernabeu into delirium.
The half could have ended in tragedy however after two flares were thrown into the Madrid support from the Barcelona fans above them.
Needing three goals in the second half, Barca coach Carles Rexach brought on Marc Overmars at half-time, switching full-back Carles Puyol to the left and taking off Coco.
Madrid boss Vicente Del Bosque made a defensive switch with Flavio Conceicao replacing Zidane.
Guti should have ended the tie in the 46th minute only to shoot at Bonano when clean through. Barely a minute later Helguera's misfortune gave Barca a glimmer of hope.
With 24 minutes remaining Rexach made another change, bringing on winger Geovanni for Rochemback, while Del Bosque responded by replacing Figo, who was out of sorts all night, with Steve McManaman.
The Catalans continued to press, but time ran out for them.
After the match, Raul admitted that Real were pushed hard by their rivals. "We were made to suffer," he said. "It wasn't an easy game but thanks to the support from the fans we managed to get through.
Rexach saw reasons to be cheerful, even in defeat, saying: "I'm pleased with the way the team played over the two legs.
"The two games were very even but we just lacked that bit of luck in front goal."
Guardian Service
REAL MADRID: Cesar, Salgado, Carlos, Hierro, Helguera, Figo (McManaman 67), Solari, Makelele, Raul, Zidane (Flavio 46), Guti (Pavsn 86). Subs Not Used: Casillas, Karanka, Munitis, Portillo. Booked: Salgado, Flavio. Goal: Raul 43.
BARCELONA: Bonano, de Boer, Abelardo, Coco (Overmars 46), Puyol, Rochemback (Geovanni 66), Luis Enrique, Xavi, Cocu (Sergi 74), Saviola, Kluivert. Subs Not Used: Reina, Christanval, Gabri, Motta. Booked: Puyol. Goal: Helguera 48 og.
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).
